Safety attachment for submarine mines.



n. THOUBTSCHANINOFF.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SUBMARINE MINES.

"APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1918.

Patented Ja11.28,19l9.

@LW/imam ersten SAFETY`ATTACHMNT FOR SUIBMARINE MINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 28, 1919.

Application led April 6, 1918. Serial No. 227,083.V

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DMITRY TROUB- TscHANINorr, citizen of Russia, and residing at New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented Vcertain new and useful Improvements in Safety Attachments for Submarine Mines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in submarine mines and particularly to a safety attachment for mines of this character which are intended to be maintained at a pre-determined depth below the surface of a body of water.

It frequently happens that such mines become detached or separated from the anchors provided for maintaining them at the desired depth and rise to the surface which is objectionable, both because of the danger of unintentional or accidental contact therewith of vessels or as indicating the probable location of a mine field to enemies.

The particular object of the present invention is to provide a safety attachment for.

such a mine whereby when the mine rises above a pre-determined depth water will be admitted thereto causing it to sink to the bottom. l

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1, is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an outer end view;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings 1 indicates a portion of the shell or casing of a mine to which the safety appliance is attached. As shown the attachment comprises an externally threaded cylindrical body 2, which is engaged with suitable threads in the wall of a passage through the wall of the shell 1,

preferably formed in a portion of greater thickness than the body of the casing.

Atits outer end the threaded member 2 is provided with a head 3, which may be inte-` gral with or formed separately ,from the part 2 and which has a socket in its outerv face; and said member 2 is provided with an inward cylindrical extension 4. Within the cylinder is secured, as byV suitable threads, an end piece 5 provided with a suitable aperture for the firing pin support here inafter referred to.

A cylinder 6 is arranged within the :mems

bers 2, 4, having at its outer end an annular flange 7, which contacts with the bottom wall of the socket at the outer end of the head 3. The inner end ofthe said cylinder 6 or an extension thereof, shown as of slightly less diameter, is adapted to entend into the central opening in the end closure 5 of the outer cylinder. As shown the flange 7, at the outer end of the cylinder is not formed integral with the body of the cylinder but as being carried by a sleeve which is formed separate from and connected by a thread with the cylinder- 6. The inner end of said sleeve serves as an abutment for a coiled pressure spring which is arranged between the two cylindrical members and bears at its inner end against a tension adjusting nut 8.

lthe flange 7 and clamped in place adjacent its margin by a ring 12 and plug 13 which is screwed into the outer end of the socket coiled' spring 17 which is interposed between.

a head attached to the pin, and a shoulder or abutment 18 in the cylinder. Normally the firing pin is held in the retracted position shown and the spring 17maintained under tension -by the action of a trigger 19. This trigger is pivotedA at one end 20, to the cylinder 6 and its other end is adapted to lie close against the inner closed end of said cylinder and to extend therewith into the opening in the end plug 5 of the outer cylinder. A spring 21 acts to normally press the trigger into the position shown in Fig. 1 and assists in properly positioning the parts t0 cause the trigger to enter the opening in the member 5 when assembling the several parts of the apparatus. The inner end of the ring pin 1s provided with an enlarged portion having a beveled surface 22 which is adapted to contact with `a corresponding surface on the trigger 19.

It will be seen that @when the cylinder 6 is moved outwardly sufcient to carry the lower endof lthegrtrigger beyond the innerfaceof the (member 14 and cylinder 6 carrying the explosive -holder' v15. yOutward movement of said pin is prevented by a safety pin 24, the

eyeof which is to be connected by a relatively fine wire with the anchor yprovided for f .the ,mine.

The 'locking pin 23 is rotatable in its mounting in the plug 13, so that in case of ,any relative rotary movement between 'the body of themine andits anchor, said pin will vfreely turn so that the safety pin 24 will always `be properly positioned relative to themine and anchor to permit it to be disengaged When suflicient strain is'exerted on "the wlre connecting 1t with the anchor.

It Vwill be understood that when the mine and anchor are lfirst submerged, they are nested or relatively close together and .that as they separate the anchor'exerts a suiicient pullon "the safetypinf24`to withdraw it and permit 'the locking pin r23 vto be moved outwardly 'bythe spring-'26,thus releasing the cylinder "6. Said cylinder is however retained in lits i Ainmostposition bythe soluble packingbelow referred yfto, Aor if that is dissolved, by 'the ypressure of Lthe water.

The cavity .or ychamber `formed within 'the plug 13 contains a body of aisuitablematerial, "for example sugar, Vwhich will be dissolved-by the action of water, an'inlet to said chamber being knormally closed by areadily detachable strip or 'disk 25.

`When afm'ine'having a safety device such c fas that hereinbei'ore described Ais to beplaced to be maintained.

inthe `water lthe yclosure 25 is lirst removed.

As the l`minesinks the materialin the chamber lintheplug 113 is dissolved and the mem? liber ,'14, and explosiveholder n15 are'exposed to the 'pressure `of the water. y

Spring 10 is :placed under'atension which will Ycorrespond .to the pressure ofthe water at a pre-determined depth, say slightly Vless ithanthe depthl at which the I-f now the anchor cable is broken -or for :any other reason the mine becomes ,detached `*from L.its anchor, nand rises, the hydrostatic pressure .on the cylinder 6 4and parts connected vktherewith will be reduced so that the spring 10 will act to move said parts mine is :designed outwardly in the outer cylinder 4. This outward `movement releases the trigger 19 and permits the spring 17 to force the firing pinlagainst the n.explosive charge in the holder 15. Such charge, (for example T. 1N. M. A.) is of sulicient `capacity to break the parts in closev proximity thereto and afford access to the body of the mine of water which will quickly ll the mine and cause thesame tosink to the bottom.

As shown, diametrically 'opposite pins 3 0, extend through the body of the .cylinder 6, their outer ends being-guidedin short'elliptical slots 31 vformed inthe outer guide 4 and the inner ends of said pins extending inwardly into the pathof the enlarged head lat the lower end of the firing pin. These pins 30 .act toprevent rotationjof the cylinder 6 .and parts connected thereto relative tothe guide, and also to *limit outward movement of the firing pin insaid cylinder. This :latter "function is of particular importance -in handling the several parts when'assembling the mechanism, las without some-suchmeans,

there would ,be vdanger of fthe'lpin being ej ectedthrough-the outer; end of the cylinder andA injuring the workmen.l Y

1 Having thus described -the Iinvention -what is claimed as new and desired to *be secured by Letters'Patent'is:

1. The 'combination 'with a -submarine 'mine, of an explosivecharge connected with the mine and adapted whenexploded Ato provide an entrance for water to themine, a firing Vpin adapted to -coperate with said explosive charge, means controlled by hydrostatic pressure to which the mine-'is visubjected for normally retaining the iiring pin in inoperative position, means for releasing the firing :pin when the hydrostatic pressure on .the mine. is reduced, and means for driving the pin vagainst y the .explosive charge.

2. The .combination with "a submarine mine, of a' cylindrical guide secured to a wall of the mine, a holder for an explosive charge supported yby said guide, Va spring pressed ring pin, means controlled ,byihydrostatic pressure fornormally maintaining the firing vpin in `inoperative position, and means for automatically releasing the firing pin o n a predetermined reduction in fthe hydrostatic pressure.

3. 'The combination with a submarine mine, of a cylindrical guide secured 'to a wallof the mine, av cylinder A within 'said guide, a main springv arranged between the cylinder v,and guide, a holder 'for an expleslve charge carried by the cylinder, a .'r'ing pin within the cylinder, means controlled by A'hydrostatic pressure forenormally maintaining fthe cylinder lin position to `retain said spring underpressure, 'and means for propelling the ring `pin against `the exlosive charge .when ,the cylinder is 'moved "I ysaiid spring.

4. The combination with a submarine mine, of an explosive charge connected with the mine and adapted when exploded to provide an entrance for water to the mine, a firing pin adapted to coperate with the explosive charge, and means controlled by hydrostatic pressure for preventing relative movement between the ring pin and explosive charge when the mine is submerged to the desired depth, said means being automatically rendered inoperative on a reduction in the hydrostatic pressure to which the mine is exposed. Y Y

5. The combination with a submarine mine, of an explosive charge connected with the mine and adapted when exploded to provide an entrance for water to the mine, a firing pin adapted to coperate with the explosive charge, means controlled by hydrostatic pressure for preventing relative movement between the ring pin and explosive charge when the mine is submerged -to the desired depth, said means being automatically rendered inoperative on a reduction in the hydrostatic pressure to which the mine is exposed, and means for preventing relative movement between the iring pin and explosive charge when the mine is not submerged.

6. The combination with a submarine mine, of a cylindrical guide secured to a wall of the mine and provided with a socket in its outer end, a sleeve tted in said guide and having at its outer end a holder for an explosive charge, a coil spring arranged between said cylinder and guide, means for varying the pressure exerted by said spring, a tiring pin movable with the cylinder relative to said gulde, and a secondary spring adapted to impel the firing pin against the explosive charge when the cylinder has moved a predetermined distance relative to said guide.

7. The combination with a submarine mine, of a cylindrical guide secured to a wall of the mine and extending into the body thereof, a cylinder arranged within said guide and provided at its outer end with a holder for an explosive charge, pressure means acting to move the cylinder outwardly relative to the guide, means for exposing the outer end of the cylinder to hydrostatic pressure, and means automatically exploding said charge when the cylinder is moved outwardly on a reduction in the hydrostatic pressure to which it is exposed.

8. The combination with a submarine mine, of a holder for `an explosive charge supported by the body of the mine and movable outward relative thereto, a firing pin adapted to coperate with said explosive, means controlled by hydrostatic pressure for retaining the explosive charge at the limift of its inward movement when the mine is properly connected to its anchor, and means for effecting relative movement between the explosive charge and ring pin to explode the charge on a predetermined reduction in the hydrostatic pressure to which the mine is exposed, for the purpose described.

9. The combination with a submarine mine, of a holder for an explosive charge supported by the body of the mine and movable outward relative thereto7 a firing pin adapted to coperate with said explosive, and movable therewith relative to the body of the mine, means controlled by hydrostatic pressure for retaining the explosive charge `and firing pin immovable relative to the body of the mine when the mine is properly connected to its anchor, means for effecting simultaneous relative movement between the body of the mine and said explosive charge and firing pin when the hydrostatic pressure on the mine is reduced, and means for subsequently effecting further relative movement between said charge and pin to explode the charge,if0r the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

DMITRY TROUBTSGHANINOFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ave cents elch, by addressing the Commissioner o! lstentl,

' Washington, D. 0. 

